Kiyotake inspires Nuremburg win

MONCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY – Japan midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake put in a man-of-the-match performance Saturday in Nuremberg’s 3-2 away win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the German Bundesliga, setting up two goals and scoring the winner.

The visitors got off the mark in the 17th minute as Timm Klose headed in a Kiyotake free kick. Eight minutes later, a Kiyotake corner was headed in for Nuremberg’s second goal by Timmy Simons.

“I was thinking of nothing except hitting the ball well,” Kiyotake said. “Because the team is winning, the mood is fantastic.”

A pair of goals by the hosts either side of the break leveled the score in the 53rd minute, but two minutes later, Kiyotake had the last word. The 22-year-old got the ball just outside the area, rounded two defenders and fired home with his right foot between the legs of a third.

“Because I expected him to stick his leg out to block it, I thought I’d be able to get it through,” said Kiyotake of his first goal since transferring this year from Cerezo Osaka.